Tag Archives: City of Nanaimo

Politics

Minister of Forests requests Nanaimo motion for a staff report be rescinded

By Hope Lompe,   Gabriola Sounder, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Ahead of the Nanaimo City council meeting on Dec. 15, B.C. Minister of Forests, Ravi Parmar, sent a letter to council requesting a motion for a staff report be rescinded. 

The window for the motion to be rescinded would have been at the next council meeting on Dec. 1, 10 days before the minister’s dated letter to council. 

“Is it typical? No, but it’s also not typical to see the actions of a councilor and council that have significant implications on British Columbia’s forest sector and on workers and their livelihoods,” said Parmar during a phone call with the Sounder. 

Continue reading Minister of Forests requests Nanaimo motion for a staff report be rescinded →
Energy, Politics

BC Greens call out Alberta fossil fuel war room’s attack on Nanaimo

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

B.C.’s Green Party Leader is dismayed Alberta’s fossil fuel “war room” is targeting Nanaimo, B.C., for its leadership in phasing out natural gas hookups to reduce the community’s emissions.

After a summer of record-breaking wildfires and sustained heat and drought, every level of government needs to be seeking solutions to the climate crisis, not sabotaging those that do, said Sonia Furstenau, the Greens’ leader and MLA for Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island.

Continue reading BC Greens call out Alberta fossil fuel war room’s attack on Nanaimo →
Cost of Climate Change, Politics

Alberta’s fossil fuels ‘war room’ singles out a local B.C. government for battle

Editor’s note: An alarming trend very close to us.

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

When Nanaimo recently voted to ban FortisBC’s natural gas hookups from new buildings, Alberta’s infamous pro-oil and gas “war room” launched a cross-border political campaign to reverse the move. 

The Canadian Energy Centre (CEC) is a publically funded provincial corporation created by former Alberta premier Jason Kenney to protect and promote the fossil fuel industry. 

Continue reading Alberta’s fossil fuels ‘war room’ singles out a local B.C. government for battle →
Cost of Climate Change

When climate’s on B.C. communities’ agenda, fossil fuels firms turn up the heat

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Oil and gas companies are still major sponsors at an annual municipal leaders conference even as B.C. reels from a provincewide drought and a fire season driven by climate change.

It’s a contradiction that dismays many municipal and political leaders attending the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) annual convention this week in Vancouver. 

Climate change is one of the top issues at the gathering, with local leaders slated to attend a host of workshops and provincial policy sessions on managing the risks and health impacts of wildfires, emergency disaster response and creating climate-resilient communities. 

Continue reading When climate’s on B.C. communities’ agenda, fossil fuels firms turn up the heat →
Politics

April 25-27: 2023 RIEP Forum

The first Rural Islands Economic Partnership (RIEP) Forum was held on Pender Island during 2019. They were forced to hold virtual events after COVID hit, but the 2023 RIEP Forum is an in-person event that will be held on Gabriola Island, April 25-27.

“This is a flagship event for the 18 plus rural islands of BC. The reach is from Bowen Island to Malcolm Island to Salt Spring to Gabriola, to Cortes, and Quadra. Our motto is, ‘No one island can be resilient alone, and together we’re stronger and better,’” explained Francine Carlin, Chair and Interim Executive Director of the Rural Islands Economic Partnership.

Continue reading April 25-27: 2023 RIEP Forum →